Chicago Blackhawks legend Jeremy Roenick was on conference call with the media to promote the Sochi Winter Olympics. Therefore I was privileged enough to talk some winter games with J.R. Here’s some of the highlights from Jeremy Roenick.
Jeremy Roenick on Team USA vs. Canada facing off in semifinals of men’s hockey on Friday (coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. CST on NBCSN):
“Their offense is running on all cylinders, their defense is good, Jonathan Quick looks good…but, it’s still U.S. vs. Canada, one of the biggest rivalries in the world. Somehow, the Canadians always seem to play their best hockey against the Americans.”
Jeremy Roenick on hockey in Russia: “I think about what the Russians have done to try and build hockey here in Russia. Putin is trying to make the KHL comparable to the National Hockey League… it’s not as competitive and you can see that in the way [the Russians] played this tournament.”
Jeremy Roenick on Alex Ovechkin: “In this tournament he was nonexistent.”
Roenick‘s 20-year NHL career included 1,216 points after being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks eighth overall out of high school in 1988. Shortly thereafter, he registered over 100 points for three straight seasons (1991-94), helping the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992. Roenick went on to play for Phoenix, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Jose, while becoming a nine-time NHL All-Star and the second-highest American-born goal scorer in the history of the league.
With Phoenix, Jeremy Roenick became the only player in NHL history to lead his team in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes in two different seasons (1999-2000, 2000-01).
Jeremy Roenick played in two IIHF World Junior Championships (1988, 1989), both the 1991 Canada Cup and World Championship and both the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He was named to the World Cup of Hockey 2004 team, but had to withdraw due to health concerns.
Roenick also made a funny during Canada’s opening round win over Norway.
Well, it’s not quite as funny as the time J.R. slammed Chicago Bears starting quarterback Jay Cutler on Twitter. Jeremy Roenick was really funny and on point that day.
Jeremy Roenick on Canada’s impressive second period, in which they outshot Norway 14-2 en route to a 3-1 win: “I think the goaltender on Norway is going to look like Denis Lemieux from ‘Slapshot’ after this game with all of the shots he’s going to have.”
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar, he’s also a frequent analyst on news talk radio; with regular segments on ESPN,NBC, CBS and Fox. A former NBC Chicago and Washington Times writer, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)